The House of Lords have confirmed that from April all legislation will printed on simple archive paper instead of the traditional calfskin vellum.

All of Parliament's legislation and some of the country's most important historical documents have been printed and written on vellum, including the Domesday Book of 1086, Magna Carta and the Lindisfarne Gospels.

William Cowley, founder of the vellum supplier in 1870

In October last year John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, said that MPs should be able to block the plans with a vote on the floor of the Commons.

It came after a number of MPs who oppose the move warned that Britain will lose an important part of its tradition and that new archive paper will not last as long.

They warned that while velllum lasts for 5,000 years, archival papers last for just 200 years.

"The un-elected Lords seem to be making the decisions, be those decisions great or small"

Paul Wright, William Cowley's general manager

However, a 19th Century ruling means the House of Lords is entitled to decide how Parliament's legislation is recorded.

Paul Wright, William Cowley's general manager and Britain's remaining maker of vellum, said: "The un-elected Lords seem to be making the decisions, be those decisions great or small.

Vellum, which is made of calf-skin

"To drag an 'ancient order' from 1800 and something is nothing short of scandalous.

"What they have decided is that future generations will be denied the privilege of touching history and no man has the right to make that decision."

"We do away with these traditions at our peril. Vellum lasts for 5,000 years and archival paper lasts 200"

James Gray, MP for North Wiltshire

James Gray, MP for North Wiltshire, said: "We do away with these traditions at our peril. Vellum lasts for 5,000 years and archival paper lasts 200.

"We would not have the Magna Carta, we would not have the Doomsday Book and we would not have most of the historic documents of English history if it were not for the fact they were printed on vellum."

And Labour MP Sharon Hodgson said: "This is wrong on so many levels that they can just do this without debate or consultation and when from all accounts the figures they've come up with are dodgy at best.

"If history doesn't matter then why are we trying to save this building? Tradition and history does matter.

Westminster Abbey's vellum copy of the Magna Carta

"It is disappointing that such an important decision with ramifications on the future of the craft and the conservation of our history was pushed through without any prior consent of the House of Commons."

"If history doesn't matter then why are we trying to save this building? Tradition and history does matter"

Labour MP Sharon Hodgson

A House of Lords spokesperson said: "We took the view a long time ago that we wanted this to stop and as far as we are concerned the decision has been made.

"This will save an expected £80,000 a year and this will is part of a more general process and our archival paper has a life span of 500 years."